Oyo State and Ekiti state Governors ‘Seyi Makinde and Biodun Oyebanji have expressed condolences to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the death of his predecessor in office, former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The duo also commiserated with the wife of the former president, Hajia Aisha Buhari and his entire family, praying God to grant them fortitude to bear the loss.
Makinde, in a statement by Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser (Media), made available to newsmen on Sunday, described Buhari’s death as unexpected, noting, however, that the former president made his mark in serving the country.
He prayed that God gives his family the fortitude to bear the loss, while also granting the former Military Head of State Aljanah Firdaus.
Also, Ekiti State governor wrote through his special adviser on Media Yinka Oyebode, in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday “We have lost a great leader. This is indeed a monumental loss to Nigeria in particular and Africa as a whole”
According to Governor Oyebanji, the late Buhari did not only serve the country meritoriously right from his youthful days as a military officer, he lived an exemplary life of selfless service to the nation and led the nation at two different periods- as a military head of state and two terms President and Commander-in-Chief, where he put in his very best.
He described the former President as a patriot, a man of integrity and a statesman, who earned his place in history as an anti-corruption champion, and through his sheer commitment to the oneness of the country as well as his dogged pursuit of her socio-economic development.
The late President Buhari, according to Governor Oyebanji, had, at different period in his life, made some sacrifices towards the greatness of the country. This, he said had etched his name in gold.
The Governor expressed condolences to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the wife, children and family of the late Buhari; the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of Daura, Katsina State as well as Nigerians in general on the death of the late President, who was nicknamed “Mai Gaskiya” by virtue of his high level of integrity.
The Ekiti State Governor urged the children of the late President to be consoled by the fact their father lived a good and impactful life and left behind a good name and legacies of integrity and service in his decades of nation building efforts.
He prayed that the Almighty Allah would forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanah Fidrus.
“On behalf of my family, the Government and good people of Ekiti State, Land of Honour, we commiserate with Our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the wife, children and family of the late President Buhari, the leadership of our party, APC and Nigerians as a whole on the passing of the immediate past President. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest in aljanah”, the statement added.